Compare towns
Kittery vs Kensington vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Kittery | Kensington | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
2,009Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Kensington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Kensington School District | — |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.